Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)

Introduction

The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly RIC, is the nation’s leading provider of comprehensive physical medicine and rehabilitation care to patients from around the world. Founded in 1954, we have been designated the “#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America” by US News & World Report every year since 1991. We set the standard of care in the post-acute market through our innovative applied research and discovery programs, particularly in the areas of neuroscience, bionic medicine, musculoskeletal medicine, and technology transfer.

Located along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago, Illinois, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab provides fundamentally different care than any other hospital, serving the largest number of the most complex patients and treating a wide range of conditions, from stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord to cerebral palsy, cancer-related conditions, and other neurological disorders. Each year, we treat over 50,000 patients from more than 70 countries throughout the world.

We have the largest rehabilitation research enterprise in the world, with an unparalleled research distinction including a record eight, multi-year, multi-million-dollar federal research designations. At any given time, there are more than 350 clinical studies underway dedicated to improving treatments and creating better outcomes for patients.

Patient Services

Our Global Patient Services (GPS) team works with you to make you comfortable during your temporary stay with us. We facilitate travel, housing, and care coordination to Chicago and back home, no matter how far away. In addition, a clinically trained case manager will provide personalized assistance to you and your family throughout your entire stay. Our GPS team provides for 24-hour interpreter services, document translation services, and the coordination of all air ambulance and transport services. Other amenities include a technology center, a chapel, recreational therapy programs, a health and fitness center, and the LIFE Center, which houses the largest source of information and resources to assist after your discharge. We are located on the Northwestern University Medical Campus. This location provides access to top specialists in adult/pediatric acute care. If anything is needed during your stay, we can assist with coordinating additional concierge services.

We pair the world’s finest minds in physical medicine and rehabilitation research with specialized care for a patient’s absolute best chance at a faster and more complete recovery. Our world-renowned physicians have advanced training to provide expert care throughout your recovery. Our physicians lead AbilityLab translational care teams and design personalized treatment plans to meet your goals. Our five innovation centers each focus on an area of biomedical science with extraordinary promise:

Brain/Stroke

Spinal Cord

Nerve, Muscle, Bone

Cancer

Pediatrics

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab has the most state-of-the-art technologies, treatments, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies available. We provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary intervention during the critical weeks following a life-altering accident and set the stage for successful recovery by minimizing secondary complications and creating hope for future progress. Patients come from all over the globe, often with catastrophic or unusual conditions in their quest for a better outcome.

Service Lines

Rehabilitation

International Solutions

In addition to expert clinical services, we provide advisory and staff training services to healthcare organizations across the world that are seeking improved operating performance, clinical staff development, or facility design support. We create customized AbilityLab Scholars Programs to export clinical and operating best practices in rehabilitation. We are dedicated to advancing the ability of healthcare professionals by sharing the latest scientific discoveries and clinical practices that are changing outcomes for patients. Through our continuing education programs, we have helped thousands of physicians, nurses, and allied health therapists advance in their field and deliver the highest level of care to their patients. The Clinical Scholars program provides competency training on rehabilitation topics within target populations such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, pediatrics, cancer, as well as functional training, including Multidisciplinary Team Training, Rehabilitation Nursing, and Wound Care. Formats include immersion programs, classroom and virtual learning, and return demonstrations to practice skills. Our Operational Scholars Program provides training for operating leaders to deepen their understanding of the operational process, metrics, and performance management to become stronger leaders. We can also provide training on international regulations, such as Joint Commission International. In addition, many international providers are struggling with capacity management as patients are spending more time in acute care beds because of the lack of available discharge options. Our Strategic Facility Planning services can help organizations make better informed decisions about the number of beds required across the post-acute continuum, alleviating pressure on acute care and potentially reducing the cost of expensive facility development. We understand that different cultures and environments require unique solutions, and our teams are experienced in finding creative solutions to solve difficult facility challenges.